Applicatory-liquid feeding and applying apparatus

ABSTRACT

THE SPECIFICATION DISCLOSES A PRESSURIZED APPLICATORYLIQUID FEEDING AND APPLYING APPARATUS INCLUDING A PRESSURIZABLE STORAGE RESERVOIR ADAPTED TO CONTAIN AN OPENTOPPED CAN OF PAINT THEREIN IN A MANNER WHEREBY MOST OF THE INTERIOR OF THE RESERVOIR IS EFFECTIVELY SEALED FROM THE PAINT ADAPTED TO BE CONTAINED WITHIN THE OPEN-TOPPED PAINT CAN SO AS TO PREVENT THE APINT FROM GETTING ON MAJOR PORTIONS OF THE INTERIOR OF THE RESERVOIR, WHICH WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY REQUIRE EXCESSIVE CLEANING EFFORT. THE APPARATUS INCLUDES A LENGTH OF FLEXIBLE FEED TUBING EXTENDING FROM THE PRESSURIZED OPEN-TOPPED PAINT CAN WITHIN THE RESERVOIR TO AN APPLICATORY BRUSH MEANS FOR CONNECTION TO A COUPLING MEANS (IN A PREFERRED FORM EITHER OF TWO DIFFERENT COUPLING MEANS) CARRIED BY THE BRUSH MEANS AND EXTENDING THEREINTO AT A LOCATION LATERALLY ADJACENT AND OFFSET FROM THE FORWARD END OF THE HANDLE AND ITS JUNCTION TO THE REAR END OF A BRUSH BODY PORTION IN A POSITION SUCH AS TO PROVIDE MINIMUM INTERFERENCE WITH A HAND HOLDING THE HANDLE AND BRUSH. IN A PREFERRED FORM OF THE INVENTION, THERE ARE TWO PARALLEL COUPLING MEANS AT EACH SIDE OF THE FORWARD END OF THE HANDLE, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO CONNECT THE FLEXIBLE   FEED TUBING AT EITHER SIDE OF THE HANDLE FOR USE BY A RIGHTHANDED PERSON OR A LEFT-HANDED PERSON. THE COUPLING MEANS IS EFFECTIVELY A PART OF AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH A CENTRALLY ANGULARLY FORWARDLY DIRECTED INTERIOR FLOW PASSAGE MEANS WHICH, AT A CENTRAL POSITION WITHIN THE BRUSH BODY PORTION, IS PROVIDED WITH A NORMALLY FINGER OR THUMB OPERABLE VALVE AT A SYMMETRICALLY CENTRALLY POSITIONED LOCATION SUITABLE FOR OPERATION BY A CONTROL FINGER OF EITHER A PAINTER&#39;&#39;S RIGHT HAND OR LEFT HAND, THUS FACILITATING THE EASY PRESSURIZED FEEDING AND APPLICATION OF PAINT OR OTHER LIQUID TO A SURFACE BY EITHER A RIGHT-HANDED OR A LEFTHANDED PAINTER.

July 11, 1972 p w K|RCH 3,676,010

APPLICATORY-LIQUID FEEDING AND APPLYING APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1970 4 Z8 20 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m/m/roe.

PA UL W K/EC/l y 11, 1972 P. w. KIRCH 3,

APPLICATORY-LIQUID FEEDING AND APPLYING APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1970 34 525 0--'f 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Office 3,676,010 Patented July 11, 1972 3,676,010 APPLICATORY-LIQUID FEEDING AND APPLYING APPARATUS Paul W. Kirch, 2325 Kellogg Court,

Altadena, Calif. 91001 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 759,710, Sept.

13, 1968, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 565,302, July 14, 1966. This application Mar. 6, 1970, Ser. No. 17,267

Int. Cl. A46b 11/02 U.S. Cl. 401-188 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The specification discloses a pressurized applicatoryliquid feeding and applying apparatus including a pressurizable storage reservoir adapted to contain an opentopped can of paint therein in a manner whereby most of the interior of the reservoir is effectively sealed from the paint adapted to be contained within the open-topped paint can so as to prevent the paint from getting on major portions of the interior of the reservoir, which would subsequently require excessive cleaning effort. The apparatus includes a length of flexible feed tubing extending from the pressurized open-topped paint can within the reservoir to an applicatory brush means for connection to a coupling means (in a preferred form either of two different coupling means) carried by the brush means and extending thereinto at a location laterally adjacent and offset from the forward end of the handle and its junction to the rear end of a brush body portion in a position such as to provide minimum interference with a hand holding the handle and brush. In a preferred form of the invention, there are two parallel coupling means at each side of the forward end of the handle, making it possible to connect the flexible feed tubing at either side of the handle for use by a righthanded person or a left-handed person. The coupling means is effectively a part of and in communication with a centrally angularly forwardly directed interior flow passage means which, at a central position within the brush body portion, is provided with a normally finger or thumb operable valve at a symmetrically centrally positioned location suitable for operation by a control finger of either a painters right hand or left hand, thus facilitating the easy pressurized feeding and application of paint or other liquid to a surface by either a right-handed or a lefthanded painter.

This application comprises a continuation-in-part of my parent, co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 759,710, filed Sept. 13, 1968, which in turn comprised a continuation-in-part of my earlier parent, co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 565,302, filed July 14, 1966, now US. Letters Patent No. 3,418,054, and, generally speaking, the present invention relates to applicatory apparatus for applying a liquid to a surface and, more particularly, per tains to such an applicatory apparatus which takes the form of a liquid-supplied applicatory brush means primarily intended to apply an applicatory liquid, such as paint or other surface-covering or surface-coating means, to a surface and, for the sake of simplicity, throughout this application the word paint shall be broadly construed as meaning any such applicatory liquid, whether it is actually paint, enamel, varnish, shellac, log oil, stain, or the like, individually or in various combinations thereof, and with various suitable pigments and/ or coloring agents employed therewith, if desired.

The applicatory brush means of the present invention is provided with means for controllably supplying applicatory liquid, or paint, under the control of the persons hand holding the applicatory brush means so that exactly the desired amount of applicatory liquid, or paint, will be made available at the tip of the applicatory brush means during a liquid-applying or painting operation and there need be no delay, in the conventional prior art manner occasioned by the necessity for frequently stopping a liquid-applying or painting operation in order to dip the brush means into a container carrying the applicatory liquid or paint which is to be applied to a surface. This greatly decreases the amount of time required for completing the applying of an applicatory liquid to, or the painting of, a given area of surface and, therefore, vastly improves the efficiency of the complete operation, and this is the primary purpose and object of the present invention.

The apparatus of the present invention is particularly useful for trim painting, and the like, which cannot be conveniently done by paint rollers, which are better adapted for painting wall surfaces, ceiling surfaces, or other flat surfaces not having any changes in surface shape or convolutions and not having any edges which must be very carefully and accurately painted, such as those around a window frame, door frame, or the like. Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention will be primarily described hereinafter in several exemplary embodiments intended primarily for applying paint to or, as it is commonly called, painting, such trim surfaces, but it should be clearly understood that this is exemplary only and should not be construed as specifically limiting the invention to painting only such surfaces or to applying only paint to a surface.

Also, the apparatus of the present invention is provided with a finger-operable valve for conveniently and easily feeding the pressurized paint to the brush, with said finger-operable valve being substantially centrally located between opposite sides of a brush body portion of the brush at a location such as to be suitable for operation by a right-handed painter or a left-handed painter. In one preferred form of the invention the brush body portion also is provided with two alternate interior flow path portions having exteriorly extending inlet coupling means located at two different locations for left and right handed use. In one preferred form, one of said inlet coupling means may communicate with the exterior of the brush body portion at a location laterally offset to the right side of the forward end of the brush handle at its junction with the rear of the brush body portion and the other of said inlet coupling means may communicate with the exterior of the brush body portion at an opposite location oppositely laterally offset to the left side of said forward end of the brush handle at its junction with the rear of the brush body portion. In a preferred form of this version of the invention, one of said two parallelconnected flow passage portions and inlet coupling means is normally effectively closed by the use of controllably removable and interchangeable closure means which can be removed and interchanged whenever it is desired to convert the device from a right handed brush to a lefthanded brush or vice versa.

Also, in this exemplary form of the invention, the reservoir means is adapted to receive therein an opentopped paint can in a manner such that major portions of the interior pressure chamber of the reservoir means are effectively sealed with respect to the open top of the paint can, and the paint adapted to be carried therein, so that there will be no unnecessary contact of the pressurized paint with such major interior portions of the pressurized container of the reservoir means. This will, of course, greatly facilitate the cleaning up of the entire apparatus after completion of a pressurized paint applying operation by merely removing the paint can from the reservoir means, replacing same with another can or container carrying a quantity of paint remover, thinner, or other paint solvent liquid, repressurizing the interior of the can containing same, and opening the finger-operable valve of the brush so that a quantity of the pressurized paint solvent will be fed from the interior of the reservoir means along the flexible feed tubing means through the inlet coupling means, the interior flow passage means, inner surfaces of the finger-operable valve means, and the brush bristle means, in a manner which will effectively and very quickly and easily clean all surfaces with which the paint had previously come into contact.

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an applicatory-liquid feeding and applying apparatus of the character referred to herein, generically and/or specifically, and which may include any or all of the features mentioned herein, either individually or in combination, and which is of extremely simple, relatively inexpensive construction adapted for ready mass manufacture at relatively low cost per unit and which is of virtually foolproof, easy-to-clean construction whereby to be conductive to widespread manufacture, distribution, and use thereof, and which results in a vastly improved liquid-applying or painting operation, making it possible to cover a given surface area in much less time than with conventional prior art liquid-applying or painting equipment intended for applying liquid to, or painting, comparable surfaces.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which follows hereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of, but not specifically limiting, the present invention), and said objects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of the detailed description which follows.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, one exemplary embodiment of the invention, and a slight variation thereof, are illustrated in the hereinbelow-described figures of the accompanying single drawing sheet and are described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a greatly reduced-size, perspective view illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the invention in actual use by a painter who is shown holding the paint brush in his right hand, with one of his fingers (usually either the index finger or the second finger) positioned lightly on the normally closed finger-operable valve means centrally symmetrically carried between opposite sides of the paint brush body portion and controlling the pressurized flow of paint to the interior of the forwardly extending paint brush bristle assembly so that a painting operation will be completed under the control of the painter very rapidly and expeditiously.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view drawn to a somewhat larger scale than FIG. 1 and taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 22 of FIG. 1, and with a vertically intermediate portion of the reservoir means, and of the open-topped paint can carried therein, removed for drawing-spacesaving reasons. Also, in this view, all of the forward portion of the feed tubing means is shown broken away for similar reasons.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the applicatory brush means of FIG. 1, drawn to a larger scale than FIG. 1, however, and with a forward portion of the feed tubing means being shown connected to one of two inlet coupling means of the applicatory brush means for supplying paint thereto.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, partially broken away, sectional view taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 4--4 of FIG. 3, and with the finger-operable control valve means in its normal, closed position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged View of the central portion of FIG. 3, taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 55 of FIG. 3, and more clearly shows the detail of the valve means when 4 in its normal, closed position such as to prevent the flow of paint therethrough to the interior of the forwardly extending bristles of the brush means.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, partially broken away, sectional view perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 5 and taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but illustrates the finger-operable control valve means in a finger-operated, open position such as to allow the flow of pressurized paint therethrough to the interior of the forwardly extending bristles of the brush means.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrates the finger-operable control valve means in the open position thereof such as illustrated in FIG. 7 in a plane perpendicular tothat of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a view generally similar to FIG. 1, but illustrates a dilferent arrangement for supporting the reservoir means and an open-topped paint can therewithin, and ta ing the form of body-engageable supporting and carrying means.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrates a slightly modified form of the brush.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 1111 of FIG. 10.

Generally speaking, the applicatory-liquid feeding and applying apparatus of the present invention comprises an applicatory liquid or paint storage reservoir means, such as is generally designated by the reference numeral 20, which is provided With a length of flexible, small-diameter feed tubing means, such as is designated by the reference numeral 22, connected to and in communication with the interior 24 of the storage reservoir means 20 at the rear end 26 of the feed tubing 22, which has a remote forward end 28 thereof (best shown in FIG. 3) connected to and in interior communication with an applicatory brush means such as is generally designated by the reference numeral 30. The applicatory brush means 30 normally has a rearwardly extending handle 32 and forwardly extending bristle means, such as generally designated by the reference numeral 34, provided with and interconnected by an intervening interconnecting brush body portion such as is generally designated by the reference numeral 36.

The applicatory brush means 30 is provided with inlet coupling means, one form of which is best shown in FIG. 3 at 3'8, and which may comprise a direct or an indirect friction-fit, clamp-fit, or any other suitable type of engagement of the two parts 28 and 38 or engagement means connected thereto, for effectively coupling the forward end 28 of the flexible feed tubing 22, which may be made of plastic, elastomeric material, neoprene synthetic rubber, or any other suitable material, to the inlet coupling means 38, and all such coupling means modifications are intended to be included and comprehended within the broad scope of the present invention.

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, there is also a second parallel-connected inlet coupling means indicated by the reference numeral '38" and so connected as to have its opening on the opposite side of the handle 32 from the first-mentioned inlet coupling means 38 so that the entire paint brush can have the feed tubing means 28 connected to either the inlet coupling means 38 or the alternate inlet coupling means 38' to facilitate the use of the brush by either a right-handed painter or a lefthanded painter.

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, the interconnection of the forward end 28 of the feed tubing 22 to the inlet coupling means 38 is located substantially adjacent to, or at the junction or interconnection of, the forward end 40 of the handle portion 32 and the adjacent rear wall or terminus 44 of the previously mentioned interconnecting brush body portion 36, since it is believed that this provides a very convenient location which is not likely to interfere with a painters manipulation or use of the applicatory brush means 30. However, as mentioned above, in order to facilitate the use of the brush by either a right-handed or a left-handed painter, the above-mentioned alternate inlet coupling means 38 is located in a symmetrically related but oppositely positioned relationship with respect to the forward end 40 of the handle 32 and with respect to the brush body portion 36. One or the other of these two inlet coupling means 38 or 38' is normally effectively closed by controllably removable and interchangeable closure means, such as is generally designated by the reference numeral 43, as is best shown in FIG. 4. This makes it possible to effectively close and render inoperable either of the inlet couplings 38 or 38 while leaving the other one open for engagement by the forward end 28 of the feed tubing '22. In the example illustrated, each of the two inlet coupling means 38 and 38 extends centrally angularly inwardly and forwardly into the interior of the brush body portion 36 immediately in front of the forward end 40 of the handle 32 and there is effectively coupled with respect to, and in a manner such as to comprise an outer part of, a corresponding interior flow-passage-means branch 45 and 45, respectively, each of which is effectively joined together and is in communication with a main rearwardly directed branch 45 of the interior fiow passage means, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 46. The interior flow passage means generally designated at 46, as previously mentioned, includes the two parallelconnected input branches 45 and 45, the main centrally symmetrically positioned interior fiow passage means portion 45" which extends forwardly through the interior of the brush body portion 36 and into the center of a rear portion of the forwardly extending bristle means 34 at a location such as is generally designated at 48 where an outlet Opening 50 is provided at said location to effectively feed pressurized liquid or paint, such as indicated by the reference numeral 54 in FIG. 2, to the brush bristles 34 from the pressurized interior chamber 24 (which is pressurized by means which will be described hereinafter) through the feed tubing 22 and the finger-operable control valve means, generally designated by the reference numeral 56, when it is depressed by the finger of the painter generally designated by the reference numeral 58 in FIG. 1 who is holding the brush in his hand in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1, with his finger 60, such as is best shown in phantom (in FIGS. 7 and 8) normally resting on the outer, upwardly projecting pushbutton member 62 of the normally closed control valve means 56.

The above-described structure makes it possible for the painter 58 to momentarily press the pushbutton 62 to temporarily or momentarily open the control valve 56, which will allow the pressurized paint in the reservoir 20 (actually within the open-topped paint can indicated generally at 52 contained within the reservoir 20) to be fed through the feed tubing 22, the interior flow passage means 46, the open control valve 56, and out of the nozzle or egress means 50 into interior moistening relationship with respect to the forward ends of the bristle means 34. As soon as the painter 58 feels that sufficient paint has been fed to the bristle means 34, he merely lifts his finger from the pushbutton 62 and the control valve 56 immediately shuts off the fiow of paint, and the painter 58 will normally continue to paint until the paint carried by the bristles 34 is reduced in quantity to a degree such that he feels that he should again feed a small quantity of paint to the interior of the bristles 34 by again temporarily depressing the pushbutton 62 with his finger 60.

Thus, it will be seen that the apparatus of the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 and described above provides extremely precise control by the painter 58 of the flow of the paint 54 to the forward ends of the bristles 34 whereby to provide an optimum method for rapid and efiicient painting-particularly trim painting-with no wasted time being required for dipping the 6 bristle means 34 in a conventional paint container in the conventional prior art manner.

The exemplary, normally closed, finger-operable valve means 56 comprises the previously mentioned upwardly and outwardly projecting pushbutton member 62 integrally connected to and comprising an upward extension of a downwardly directed valve body 64, which is slidably mounted in a valve recess 66 formed in the interior member 68 of the previousl mentioned interconnecting brush body portion, generally designated by the reference numeral 36. The bottom part of the recess means 66 is effectively provided with a removable bottom closure cap 69 carrying therein the bottom end of a biasing coil compression spring 70 which normally has its upward end positioned so as to abut the upwardly recessed, effectively cup-shaped bottom 74 of the valve body portion 64 whereby to bias it upwardly or outwardly into the normal, valveclosed position best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The entire valve body portion 64 and the pushbutton 62 at the outer end thereof are retained and prevented from further outward travel beyond the normal, valveclosed position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 by abutment of the upwardly directing abutting end portion or part 76 of the valve body portion 64 against the flexible, collapsible tube 78, which may be made of neoprene synthetic rubber, various other types of relatively fatigueproof, long-lasting synthetic or natural rubbers, elastomeric plastic materials, or any other functional equivalent and which, in turn, forcibly abuts the bottom surface of the fixedly positioned fiat anvil 80. However, if it should be desired to provide an independent positioning and retaining (or retention) structure for the valve body portion 64 and the pushbutton member 62 in its outer, extreme valve-closed position, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, this may be done by providing an upper shoulder so positioned as to abut a radially projecting annular portion positioned around the top aperture 86 in the metallic ferrule or cover plate 88 fastened around the mating molded plastic or wood upper and lower half portions which together comprise the inner member 68 (although it may be an integral member of wood or any other suitable material) and together therewith comprising the previously mentioned interconnecting brush body portion generally designated by the reference numeral 36. Said optional shoulder and said cooperating optional annular abutment in such a slightly modified structure would act as a positive additional stop preventing any further upward movement of the valve body portion 64 completely independent of the travel-limiting operation of the previously mentioned engagement of the effective opposed jaw members comprising the abutting edge or ridge 76, the opposed portion of the flat anvil and the collapsed tube 78 positioned therebetween.

It should be noted that the flexible, collapsible tube portion 78 which may be said to comprise an effective valve portion 93 of the complete flow passage means 46 may comprise an integral portion of the complete flow passage means 46 or may at opposite ends thereof be connected to other inlet and outlet tube portions of the complete flow passage means 46 which, in such case, need not necessarily be made of the same type of flexible material as the collapsible tube portion 78 comprising the effective valving portion 93 since only said valving portion 93 requires the flexible, fatigue-proof, collapsible construction made necessary by repeated operation of the valve means 56. It is of course evident that the effective valving portion 93 comprising the collapsible tube portion 78 of the complete flow passage means 46 has an effectively variable cross-sectional area in response to finger depression of the pushbutton 62 and/ or the release thereof, thus changing the through-passing flow characteristic of the complete flow passage means, indicated generally at 46, in a manner which will allow the flow of pressurized paint 54 from within the open-topped paint can 52 positioned within the interior pressurized chamber 24 of the reservoir means 20 to be fed in any desired quantity into the interior of the assembly of forward ends of the bristles 34 of the paint brush 30 for the purposes previously described.

It should be noted that the previously mentioned fixed upper anvil portion 80 comprises a flat cross member fixedly mounted within the recess 66 in a manner extending across the open space 94 positioned between the two laterally separated portions or parts 96 of the bifurcated or split valve portion 64 so that the lower ends of said two laterally separated portions 96 immediately above the cup member 74 may integrally carry on the upper surface thereof the previously mentioned, substantially upwardly inverted-V-shaped, upper abutting end surface portion 76, with the effective valving portion 93 of the collapsible tube 78 being positioned immediately above said vertically slidably movable upper abutting end portion 76 and immediately below the fixedly positioned, fiat anvil member 80said two members functioning as effectively opposed jaw members normally biased into the closed relationship shown in FIGS. and 6 by the biasing spring 70 in a manner which completely closes the effective valve means formed thereby and prevents all flow of pressurized paint through the tube 78 and consequently through the complete interior flow passage means indicated generally at 46.

The normal valve-closed position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be controllably modified by the application of the painters finger 60 to the pushbutton 62 and the depression thereof against the action of the biasing spring 70, which may be done to any desired extent and which will correspondingly open the effective valving portion 93 of the tube 78 to any desired extent and will correspondingly allow the controlled flow of pressurized paint 54 to the effective nozzle 50 and then into the interior of the assembly of bristles of the brush 34-.

It should be noted that, in the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 inclusive, the valve means 56 is positioned substantially centrally symmetrically with respect to opposite sides of the brush body portion 36 so that, in effect, it can be said that the pushbutton 62 is located directly forwardly of the forward end 40 of the handle 32 at a location such as to be conveniently digitally operable by either a right-handed painter or a left-handed painter. It should further be noted that this important double aspect of the novel construction of the present invention-the fact that it is suitable for use by a right-handed or a left-handed painteris even further facilitated and enhanced by the provision of the previously mentioned double parallel-connected interior flow passage means branches 45 and 45 (best shown in FIG. 4) and by the provision of the controllably movable and interchangeable closure means 43 which makes it possible to initially manufacture the entire brush 30 so that it is suitable for use by either a right-handed painter or a lefthanded painter, with it only being necessary to effectively close one of the interior flow passage branches 45 or 45 and the corresponding inlet means 38 or 38 by sealingly engaging the closure means 43 therewith such as is clearly shown in FIG. 4, thus leaving the other interior flow passage branch 45 and the other inlet means 38 open and adapted to receive the front end 28 of the feed tubing means 22. However, whenever it is desired to reverse the connection of the feed tubing means 22, it is only necessary to reverse the positioning of the closure means 43 and to reconnect the front end 28 of the feed tubing means 22 to the other inlet means 38 and the other interior flow passage means branch 45'.

It should be noted that the exemplary closure means 43 is illustrated as comprising a longitudinal, substantially cylindrical plug of rubber or other elastomeric, compressible material carrying spaced, outwardly projecting, compressible ridges along the length thereof so that it can be forced into the inlet means 38 and flow passage branch 45' in a manner effectively closing and sealing same and provided with an elastomeric sealing cap portion adapted to engage the outer periphery of the outer end of the inlet means 38'. Thus, it will be understood that if it is to be removed and re-engaged with the other inlet means 38 and the other flow passage branch 45, this can be done by applying sufiicient force thereto to overcome the elastic qualities thereof, after which it can be similarly forcibly elastically engaged in closing and sealing relationship with respect to the other inlet means and branch, if desired. It should be clearly understood that, while this type of closure means is very effective, easy to use, and quite inexpensive, the invention is not specifically so limited, and various other types of closure means may be employed in lieu thereof within the broad scope hereof.

The previously mentioned reservoir and container means 20 actually comprises, in the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, a cylindrical container having a bottom 98 and upstanding, substantially cylindrical side wall means 100 provided with removable cover means 102 and with controllably engageable and disengageable fastening means 104 for fastening the cover 102 across the otherwise open top of the container means 20, and the open top of the paint can 52 contained therein, in sealed relationshp with respect to both the container means 20 and the open-topped paint can 52in the latter case by the provision of sealing means 105 of a resilient, compressible, elastomeric gasket type adapted to sealingly engage the top edge 107 of the paint can 52in a manner such as to define the previously mentioned interior pressure chamber 24 within the container 20 and also within the open-topped paint can 52 above the surface of the paint 54. In the exemplary form illustrated, said fastening means 104 comprises a plurality of threaded studs 106 fastened to the top edge 108 of the side wall 100 and adapted to have the annular gasket member 110 also carried by the top edge 108 of the container 20 so that the cover 102 may have corresponding edge holes therein vertically positioned over the studs 106 and may have finger-operable nuts 112 threadedly tightened thereon so as to lock corresponding annular portions of the cover 102 and the top edge 108 of the side wall 100 on opposite surfaces of the sealing gasket 110 whereby to provide an airtight seal within the interior pressure chamber means 24, and with the previously mentioned gasket type sealing means 105 effectively sealing the interior of the paint can 52, and the paint 54 contained therein, from all interior portions of the container 20 except those portions directly above the open top of the paint can 52, which, of course, will later on make it unnecessary to clean the entire interior of the entire side wall 100 and bottom 98 after removal of the paint can 52 from the reservoir 20.

It should be noted that the reservoir means, or container means, 20 is provided with outlet means for connection to the previously mentioned flexible duct or feeding tube means 22, and said outlet means is generally designated by the reference numeral 114, as best shown in FIG. 2, and comprises a feeding tube 116 extending downwardly through the interior pressure chamber 24 to a position near the bottom of a quantity of paint 54 carried within the open-topped paint can 52 and there being provided with an open inlet end 118 in direct communication with the paint 54. The upper end of the feeding tube 116 has a threaded fitting 120 which is threadedly sealingly and removably engaged within a corresponding threaded portion 122 centrally carried by the cover 102, thus making it possible to remove same whenever desired.

In the exemplary form illustrated, the interior pressure chamber means 24, which acts substantially as an air accumulator, is adapted to be pressurized to a moderate degree such as to cause positive feeding of the paint 54 along the feed tubing means 22 to the brush 20 of FIG. 3, and such pressurization, in the exemplary form illustrated, is accomplished by the provision of a hand pump means, one form of which is generally designated at 124, which is sealingly threadedly removably engaged in through-passing relationship with respect to the cover member 102,

as indicated at 126, so that it can be removed when desired for repair or replacement purposes. Said hand pump means has a handle 128 which may be operated normally by hand-pumping same a few strokes for pressurizing the interior pressure chamber 24 to a value such as a few pounds above atmospheric pressure, for example, although not specifically so limited, which can be determined by a pressure gauge (not shown) associated with the pump 124, or by a separate pressure gauge, one representative form of which is indicated somewhat diagrammatically at 129. This is normally done just prior to a painting operation and will normally provide sufiicient pressure to provide positive feeding of the paint 54 whenever the finger-operable control valve 56 of FIGS. 3-8 is temporarily opened, and will do so for a substantial period of valve-open time, thus allowing a painting operation to continue for a substantial period of time before operation of the hand pump 124 is again required. However, it should be noted that other types of pressurizing means, either manually operated or power-driven with antomatic cut-off features incorporated, if desired, may be employed in lieu of the hand pump means 124, or a pres sure vessel or any of a plurality of pressure vessels containing air, carbon dioxide, Freon, or other appropriate fluids under pressure, may be employed in lieu thereof as a means for pressurizing the interior chamber 24, and all such arrangements are intended to be included and comprehended within the broad scope of the present invention.

It should be noted that the feeding tube 116 need not necessarily pass upwardly through the cover 102 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in all forms of the invention. In certain modifications, it may pass through the side wall 100, the bottom 98, or any other portion of the reservoir means 20, if desired, and all such modifications or others capable of functioning in the general manner taught herein are intended to be included and comprehended within the broad scope of the present invention,

It should also be noted that the type of sealing means and fastening means shown, respectively, at 104, 110, and 105, are not to be construed as specifically limiting the invention thereto. Quick-operable, over-center type of edge clamps, or other rapidly and easily engageable and disengageable fasteners, may be employed in lieu of the threaded fasteners 104, and sealing means of constructions and/or positionings difierent from those shown at 110 and/ or 105 may be employed in lieu thereof. It should also be noted that, if desired, a liner of plastic, rubber or any other suitable material may be adapted to be positioned within the reservoir 20 outside of the paint can 52 so as to provide another means for effectively preventing paint from coming into contact with major interior portions of the container 20, and, in certain forms of the invention, such a protective liner may be employed in lieu of the paint can 52 to contain the paint 54 therein while preventing contact of the paint 54 with most of the interior surface of the container means 20, and all such arrangements are intended to be included and comprehended herein as fully as if specifically described, illustrated, and claimed herein.

It should be noted that the particular type of valve structure indicated generally at 56 is particularly advantageous since it, in effect, provides for operation of same by either a right-handed or a left-handed painter while also completely isolating all moving portions of the pushbutton member 62, valve body portion 64, biasing spring 70, valve recess 66, and, indeed, all interior portions of the valve structure with the exception of the inner surface of the flexible, collapsible tube 78 from paint fiowing therethrough and this, of course, prevents any clogging of the valve by such paint after it hardens to some extent, which would be extremely undesirable and which could be expected to render a conventional valve virtually inoperable after a short period of use. It will be noted that all that is necessary to do to clean the present interiorly sealed and effectively isolated valve 56 and, indeed, the entire interior of the reservoir means 20 and all portions of the feed tubing 22 interconnecting same after completion of the painting operation, is to remove the paint can 52 (and/or protective liner such as referred to hereinbefore) from the reservoir means 20 and to then replace same with a can or other container carrying a paint solvent, then closing and sealing the reservoir means 20 and pressurizing the interior chamber 24 therewithin, followed by digital opening of the valve 56 so that the pressurized paint solvent can be fed from within the reservoir means 20 (after having dissolved all of the paint from the interior surfaces thereof contacted thereby), outwardly through the fitting portions and 122 (while interiorly cleaning same) and then through the interior of the feed tubing means 22 (while also cleaning same) and then through the complete interior fiow passage means 46 and valve 56 (while cleaning all interior surfaces thereof previously contacted by paint). The paint solvent will then be emitted through the nozzle 50 and the brush bristles 34 which can be additionally dipped into a container carrying such a paint solvent while the bristles can be worked back and forth by the painter by means of movement of the handle 32. This will result in completely cleaning the entire apparatus in just a few moments and in a manner involving very little elfort on the painters part. The simplicity of the cleaning operation is such that there will be little if any temptation for the painter to fail to do so upon completion of a painting operation, and thus the apparatus will at all times be maintained in clean condition ready for any subsequent painting operation. Furthermore, this will minimize any likelihood of paint ever remaining on or in any portion of the apparatus long enough to harden and possibly render the apparatus inoperative. Thus, it may be said that the apparatus is of what might be termed a self-cleaning type by reason of the type of cleaning operation described above,

FIG. 9 illustrates a modification of the invention similar in most respects to the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 and described in detail hereinbefore the major difference being the provision of body-engageable supporting and carrying means, one form of which is generally designated by the reference numeral 130, which is cooperable with the reservoir means and container means 20 for supporting and carrying same and which is also adapted to be engaged and fastened with respect to the upper trunk portion, such as is designated at 132 in FIG. 9, of the body of the painter 58 for effectively placing both the reservoir or container means 20 and an open-topped paint can similar to that shown at 52 in FIG. 2 and adapted to be contained therein, in supported relationship with respect to the body of the painter 58 so that he will be comletely free to perform any desired painting operation and will not need to devote any attention whatsoever to the reservoir or container means 20 and the open-topped paint can contained therewithin. In the exemplary arrangement illustrated, said supporting and carrying means comprises a base tray 134 having upwardly directed recess means 136 formed therein and being of substantially the same size and shape as the bottom 98 of the reservoir or container means 20 so as to be adapted to firmly receive and engage same in the manner clearly shown in FIG. 9. Also, if needed, laterally directed threaded engagement means may be employed for threadedly connecting a rigid back panel member 138 of the supporting and carrying means 130 to a forward part of the side wall 100 of the reservoir or container means 20. The back panel 138 is provided with a conventional strap or belt type harness, such as is generally designated at 142 in FIG. 9, which may have suitable buckle means, lace-type fastening means, or any other appropriate fastening means for fastening said harness 142 around the torso 132 of the body of the painter 58 for appropriately mounting the entire apparatus in an operative use relationship such as that shown in FIG. 9, or any other effective equivalent thereof.

It should be noted that the strap or belt type harness 142 shown in FIG. 9 is exemplary only and is not to be construed as specifically limiting the invention to the particular type of harness illustrated. For example, one alternate type of harness might be a cross-body shoulder belt, such as is frequently used for mounting some object at the opposite side of a persons body from the shoulder engaged by the upper loop end of the belt thereof, with the object normally being positioned laterally adjacent to the wearers waist or hip, opposite to the engaged shoulder. Also, various other types of mounting belts or harnesses may be employed other than the exemplary one shown at 142 in FIG. 9.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a further slight modification of the invention, primarliy with respect to the effective nozzle means 50 of the first form of the invention, and because it does illustrate a modification, parts structurally or functionally substantially identical or similar to corresponding parts of the previously described first form of the invention are designated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter a, however. In this modification, it will be noted that the nozzle means 50a is of a spatulate, forwardly laterally diverging type, preferably made of soft rubber, such as neoprene synthetic rubber or the like, and is adapted to function as a means for effectively divergingly disseminating paint fed through the control valve 56a when open, so as to properly moisten the bristle means 34a of the brush across sub stantially the entire width thereofthis being desirable in certain instances when a wider brush than that shown in the first form of the present invention is employedone exemplary embodiment of which is illustrated fragmentarily in FIG. 10. It should .be noted that, in the exemplary modification illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the spatulate, forwardly laterally diverging nozzle means 50a includes a plurality of vertical webbing walls 144 which function to provide a plurality of adjacent, diverging, forwardly directed passages 146 for the paint, which brings about a better dissemination thereof and which also acts to positively maintain the spatulate shape of the modified nozzle means 50a. Of course, is should be noted that, in certain versions of the modification illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the vertical webbing walls 144 may be eliminated if desired.

It should also be noted that in this modification the alternate interior flow passage branch shown at 45 in FIG. 4 and the alternate inlet coupling means 38' of FIG. 4 are optional and, if desired, may be eliminated entirely. Of course, this is also true of the first form of the invention in certain aspects thereof, and the optionality thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 is intended to be representative of such a modification of the first form of the invention in certain aspects thereof.

-It should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basis teachings and invention concept of the present invention.

I claim:

1. Applicatory liquid feeding and applying apparatus comprising: applicatory liquid storage reservoir means provided with a length of flexible, small diameter feed tubing means connected to and in communication with the interior thereof at a rear end thereof and having a remote forward end provided with, and in interior communication with, an applicatory brush means, said applicatory brush means having a rearwardly extending handle and forwardly extending bristle means provided with and interconnected by an intervening interconnecting brush body portion, said handle having a forward end and said body portion having a rear end interconnected by and defining junction means therebetween, said applicatory =brush means being provided with interior, effective flow passage means passing substantially forwardly through said body portion and forwardly into the interior of said forwardly extending bristle means at a location between said brush body portion and a forward end of said brush means for interiorly feeding pressurized applicatory liquid initially supplied to said rear end of said flexible feed tubing means from said reservoir means, said interior flow passage means having a rear end effectively comprising inlet coupling means extending from a position rearwardly exterior of said brush body portion adjacent to said junction means between the forward end of said handle and said rear end of said brush body portion whereby said inlet coupling means provides minimum interference with a hand adapted to manually hold said handle during a liquid-applying operation; and fingeroperable normally closed valve means carried by said body portion in said interior flow passage means and normally closing same and controllably operable by a finger of a persons hand holding said applicatory brush means for allowing controlled forward feeding of applicatory liquid therethrough toward a forward end of said applicatory brush means; said valve means being subof said brush body portion at a location suitable for finger engagement and operation by the finger of a righthanded painter or a left-handed painter and comprising an outwardly projecting pushbutton member connected to a valve body portion provided with, and slidably mounted in, a valve recess provided with biasing spring means normally biasing said valve body portion and said pushbutton member into an outwardly displaced, extreme, valve-closed position, said interior flow passage means comprising a flexible, collapsible, elastomeric tube having an easily collapsed, effective valving portion provided with a fixed anvil portion positioned immediately adjacent thereto, said valve body portion having an abutting end portion carried adjacent to said fixed anvil portion and normally biased by said biasing spring means toward said anvil portion with sufficient force to normally collapse the intervening flexible, easily collapsed, effective valving portion of the flexible, collapsible tube comprising said interior flow passage means in a manner which normally completely shuts same and effectively closes said valve means; said reservoir means having an interior pressure chamber means therewithin adapted to be effectively pressurized for causing pressurized positive feeding of applicatory liquid adapted to be carried within said reservoir means outwardly therefrom through said flexible feed tubing means toward said applicatory brush means whenever said finger-operable valve means is temporarily digitally operated into open position; said interior flow passage means comprising a substantially Y-shaped, flexible, collapsible tube having two effectively parallel-connected branch portions provided, respectively, with two of said inlet coupling means, each extending to and being positioned exterior of said brush body portion on opposite sides of said handle and each forwardly joining together and being connected in series with respect to said intervening, flexible, easily collapsed, effective valving portion thereof, and closure means effectively closing one of said parallel-connected branch portions so as to effectively close and inactivate same.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means for effectively receiving a conventional open-topped can of paint within said reservoir means and isolating and sealing means for effectively sealing paint carried within the interior from contact with major portions of the interior of said reservoir means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, including pressurizing means removably carried by and in interior com munication with said reservoir means in a manner for direct communication with an open-topped can of paint 13 carried therein whereby to provide a desired degree of pressure within said interior pressure chamber means and such an open-topped can of paint in a manner effectively sealed from major portions of the interior of said pressure chamber means by said isolating and sealing means.

'4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, including hand pump pressurizing means removably carried by and in interior communication with said reservoir means in a manner for direct communication with an open-topped can of paint carried therein whereby to provide a desired degree of pressure within said interior pressure chamber means and such an open-topped can of paint in a manner effectively sealed from major portions of the interior of said pressure chamber means by said isolating and sealing means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said closure means comprises controllably removable and interchangeable closure means eifectively closing one of said parallel-connected branch portions so as to efiectively close and inactivate same.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including bodyengageable supporting and carrying means cooperable with said reservoir means for supporting and carrying same and adapted to be engaged with respect to a portion of a human body for placing the reservoir means in efiectively supported relationship with respect to a human body.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said supporting and carrying means comprises a base tray having upwardly directed recess means of substantially the same size and shape as a corresponding bottom portion of said reservoir means for receiving and engaging same.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said supporting and carrying means comprises a base tray having upwardly directed recess means of substantially the same size and shape as a corresponding bottom portion of said reservoir means for receiving and engaging same and 14 controllably engageable and disengageable laterally directed attachment means for attaching a side portion of said reservoir means in laterally fixed relationship with respect to an upstanding portion of said supporting and carrying means for positively locking said reservoir means in firmly fastened relationship thereto.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said reservoir means comprises a container having a bottom and upstanding side wall means and removable cover means provided with controllably engageable and disengageable fastening means for fastening said cover means across the otherwise open top of said container means and in sealed relationship therewith whereby to define said interior pressure chamber therewithin.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said reservoir means is provided with outlet means connecting it to said feed tubing means comprising a feeding tube having an open inlet end normally positioned adjacent to a bottom of said interior chamber within said reservoir means and being provided with fastening means for fastening it in said position with a portion thereof extending sealingly through said reservoir means from the interior thereof to the exterior thereof.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said interior flow passage means is provided with a spatulate forwardly laterally diverging outlet nozzle means for forwardly and laterally outwardly feeding applicatory liquid in a manner enhancing the dissemination thereof to all forward portions of said bristle means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,504,487 4/1950 Anson 401278 3,418,054 12/1968 Kirch 401-188 3,503,691 3/1970 Kirch 401--188 WILLIAM H. GRIEB, Primary Examiner 

